News &amp; Features - October 2009

Thompson Valley High School senior Graham Geary kneels with his trumpet before the start of his band's performance at the Northern Regional Band Competition at Thompson Valley on Wednesday.

From left, Berthoud High School sophomore Gabe Skeen, junior Nolan Rennert and junior Alan Coone wait to perform at the Northern Regional Band Competition at Thompson Valley High School on Wednesday.

From left, Makenzie Wilson, 17, Lindsi Durrett, 15, and Anna Schafman, 17, of Estes Park High School walk down Eagle Drive before they perform at the Northern Regional Band Competition at Thompson Valley High School on Wednesday.

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Youngsters play drums as they sit on a sculpture called "Need A Lift" by Randy Hand on Friday, Oct. 16, 2009 outside the Loveland Boys & Girls Club, 2500 E. First St. during a dedication ceremony for the sculpture. From left are Jaden Hridlcka, 9, Braxton Bullard, 10, Torrie Hridlcka, 11, Cassie Cordova, 9, and Tony Castaneda, 8.

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Television crews, reporters and photographers hang out in front of the Heene's residence in Fort Collins on Friday, a day after 6-year-old Falcon Heene went missing and was thought to have drifted away in a helium-filled balloon. Journalists from around the world are here to cover the story.

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Richard Heene hugs his son, Falcon, 6, while addressing the media outside their Fort Collins home on Thursday after Falcon was found safe after it was thought that he drifted away in a helium-filled balloon tethered in their backyard.

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Members of the Heene family, from left, Richard, Falcon, 6, Ryo, 8, Mayumi and Bradford, 10, address the media after Falcon was found safe at their Fort Collins home Thursday after he was thought to have drifted away in an experimental helium-filled balloon that was tethered in their backyard.

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Six-year-old Falcon Heene, right, stands with his brother, Bradford, 10, outside their Fort Collins home as Falcon answers questions after he went missing and was believed to have drifted away in a helium-filled balloon that was tethered in their backyard.

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Six-year-old Falcon Heene sits atop a van parked outside his Fort Collins home Thursday while playing with his brother, Ryo, 8, right, after Falcon was found safe after going missing earlier in the day.

A street sweeper rolls over the railroad crossing as it travels westbound on Fourth Street in downtown Loveland. The crossings at Fourth and Sixth Streets will be repaired in the upcoming weeks with work starting on Sixth Street on Oct. 19 and on Fourth Street on Oct. 26. Expect closures at each intersection to last a week, weather permitting.

Patsy New shows Tom Buchanan, right, where her grandson is currently stationed with the assistance of her husband Glenn New's hat at Appleby's at 29th Street and Buchanan Avenue. The three met at the restaurant where an employee found a Marine Corps Challenge Coin. Assistant General Manager Michael Storrer, left, gave the coin to Buchanan to help find the owner. The coin was given to Glenn New by his grandson Michael S. Ackman.

The Loveland High School Crimson Regiment takes to Patterson Field on Wednesday during the Northern Regional Band Competition at Thompson Valley High School on Wednesday.

Thompson Valley High School senior Graham Geary kneels with his trumpet before the start of his band's performance at the Northern Regional Band Competition at Thompson Valley on Wednesday.

Loveland Police work the scene of a bank robbery on Tuesday afternoon. Just before noon the Western States Bank located at the southwest intersection of North Colorado Avenue and West Eisenhower Boulevard was robbed.

Angela Canada Hopkins paints an ovarian cancer cell on Monday in her studio in downtown Loveland. Her studio is on the route for the Loveland Studio Tour this weekend which will include 40 artists at 27 locations around Loveland.

Angela Canada Hopkins paints an ovarian cancer cell on Monday in her studio in downtown Loveland. Cancer became significant to her after her father died from the disease so she began to research causes and preventions. Eventually she began painting the cells in a distinct abstract style. Her studio is on the route for the Loveland Studio Tour this weekend which will include 40 artists at 27 locations around Loveland.

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Mary Ellen Wild melts uncolored chunks of wax in a kettle set in boiling water before adding color and aroma and then pouring the liquid wax into various shaped molds.

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Loveland candlemaker Mary Ellen Wild breaks up large blocks of wax which she then melts and pours into molds to make different shaped candles.

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In addition to metal molds to make candles Mary Ellen Wild also uses plastic molds and repurposed containers like jars.

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Loveland candlemaker Mary Ellen Wild will have a variety of hand-made candles including pumpkins and footballs for sale at the annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Sale.

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Mary Ellen Wild tests the level of a tree-shaped candle as she adjusts the bottom by melting away wax with a heated cast-iron frying pan.

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Loveland resident Mary Ellen Wild trims the rough edges off a tree-shaped candle after taking it out of a mold as she makes candles in her workshop on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009.

A Western Scrub Jay forages for corn kernels at the home of Connie Kogler in Loveland. According to Kogler, the bird is seldom seen near her home but instead keeps to its habitat near in the foothills. Kogler, spent Sunday morning counting and identifying 38 different species of birds from a 17-foot diameter circle in her front yard.

A northern flicker feeds in the backyard of Loveland ornithologist Connie Kogler in Loveland.

A blue jay eats seeds from a feeder on Sunday at the home of Connie Kogler in Loveland.

A therapy dog named Phoebee Dawn, owned by Amy Fristoe of Wellington, waits to be blessed during the Blessing of the Paws event at the Medical Center of the Rockies. The paw prints marked the way to the event in the hospital's lobby.

Medical Center of the Rockies Chaplain Donald Orwick, right, blesses a Norwich terrier named Tucker owned buy Marcia Oliphant, left, of Windsor at the Blessing of the Paws event at the hospital. Tucker and other members of the MCR Volunteer Pet Therapy Team were honored Sunday for the work they do at the hospital.

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Longmont resident Colton Stedman, 6, demonstrates the proper way to stay low and go in a fire emergency situatioin during a safety presentation by Loveland deputy fire marshall Scott Pringle, right, called "Home, fire and life safety" on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 at the Loveland Museum/Gallery.

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Six-year-old Colton Stedman wears a fire helmet as he listens along with his parents, Ron and Cathy Stedman, to a presentation called "Home, fire and life safety" given by Loveland deputy fire marshall Scott Pringle on Saturday at the Loveland Museum/Gallery.

A leaf near the Loveland Museum/Gallery.

Loveland High School senior Amani Moin scored a 36 - a perfect score- on the ACT withoud studying more than the preparatio she did in class.

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Johnstown residents Mike Kennedy, left, and Colleen Kennedy chat about siding with Jeff Alexander, owner of Housing Energy Specialist of Loveland, at the Northern Colorado Fall Home and Remodeling Show on Friday, Oct. 9, 2009 in the First National Bank Building at The Ranch. The show continues today and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

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Kathie Macumber, back, slices an onion with a food processor during a demonstration for Kitchen Craft cookware made by Americraft at the Northern Colorado Fall Home and Remodeling Show on Friday, Oct. 9, 2009 in the First National Bank Building at The Ranch. The home show continues today and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

Robert Gregor of Loveland heads east on Sixth Street in downtown as he runs some errands amidst snow flurries on Thursday. Snow fell for much of the day but today is expected to be partly sunny in the morning with highs in the mid-50s and a 20 percent chance of precipitation in the afternoon.

Loveland Fire and Rescue and Loveland Police work the scene of an accident on Thursday afternoon that involved two cars on North Taft Avenue and West 22nd Street. The accident tied up traffic for about an hour until crews cleared the area.